Availability, accessibility, and affordability of neurodiagnostic tests in 37 countries.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the availability, accessibility, and affordability of EEG, EMG, CSF analysis, head CT, and brain MRI for neurologic disorders across countries.

Methods

An online, 60-question survey was distributed to neurology practitioners in 2014 to assess the presence, wait time, and cost of each test in private and public health sectors. Data were stratified by World Bank country income group. Affordability was calculated with reference to the World Health Organization's definition of catastrophic health expenditure as health-related out-of-pocket expenditure of >40% of disposable household income, and assessment of providers' perceptions of affordability to the patient.

Results

Availability of EEG and EMG is correlated with higher World Bank income group (

SUBMITTER: McLane HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4642148 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature